Conveyer system



Nov. 24, 1931.

R. L. DRAKE coNvEYER SYSTEM Original Filed Aug. 13, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet1 Nov. 24, 1931. R. DRAKE 4 1, 7

CONVEYER SYSTEM Original Filed Aug. 13, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 24,1931. I DRAKE CONVEYER' SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Aug. 13,1924 awvmtoz ,MWA 2% W R. L- DRAKE CONVEYER SYSTEM Nov. 24, 1931.

Original Filed Aug. 13, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 llll ls Nov, 24, 1931.

R. L. DRAKE CONVEYER SYSTEM Original Filed Aug. 13, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet5 avwewto'z Q 1 11 IO ML ed tables which are preferabl Patented Nov. 24,1 931- I r U D STATES PATENT: OFFICE;

BOLLIN' 1..

DRAKE, 0] PORT ARTHUR, ABSIGNOB TO THE COMPANY, 03"

NEW YORK, N; Y, A. CORPOBATIQN OF DELAWARE comm strewn-11:

' 1929. Serial 1T0. 859,195.

Q "The invention relates to apparatus for transferring articles from onepoint to another and is more particularly applicable to a system inwhich certain operations are performed'on the articlesin the course oftheir .the conveyersystemforming the basisof the present invention. 7

One of the features of the invention is the provisionof separatesupporting elements for each container carried bythe system. Thesesupports are adjustable on the'main conveyer element so that thecontainers may be carried from a osition in which a filling operationtakes p ace to that in which the capping of the container may beeffected.

. As herein disclosed, the main conveyer ele- .ment is in the formof arotary member or platform which is mounted on a stationary. pedestal.Insofar as many ofthe features of the present invention are concerned,this construction might be replaced by any suitable form of en essconveyer or other means for carrying the containers through a definitecycle. The individual supports, asdisclosed, assume the form ofrotatably-mountso arranged as to provide a supporting sur ace at aslight inclination from t e horizontal. Provision is made forautomatically adjustin or rotating the individual supports on the mainconveyer element as the latter passes certain definite pointsv in "itscycle of movement.

- Suitable detents are provided for retaining.

the rotatable supports in one or another of their positions ofadjustment and this has I necessitated the provision of means for automatically disablingvor releasing these detents just prior to the turningof the supportsto a new position. Another feature of the invention dowith the provision of means for ejecting the containers-as they reach adesired pointin the cycle of operation of the main conveyer element. Theoperation of the ejecting means is so timed as to insure the transferofthe containers from the'individual sup-' arts to a travelling belt, orother conveyer, eading from the machine to any suitable P n c A specialfeature of the ejecting mechanisms is in the provisionof a quick actionso that the containers may be discharged from the apparatus during arelatively small portion of the cycle of operation of the main conveyerelement. At the same time the construction is such that the danger ofinjuring the containers, which might arise from a sudden blow from theejector arm, is eliminated. Furthermore, the operating means for theejectors is so designed as to provide for a quick restoration of theparts so that they will not obstruct the individual supports for morethan a brief period. This is to enable a new container to be quicklyplaced upon each support after an old container has been ejected. Inthis connection the ejector is withdrawn in two stages, the first stagebeing merely sufiicientto enable the insertion of a new container on thesupport; The active end of the ejector, at this time, is sosituated asto provide a positioning means. against which the new container may bethrust in applying it to the support. Subseuently, the ejector will bemore fully-withawn so that it will not interfere with the rotarymovement of the supporting table,

which has been previously mentioned. In order to prevent any" danger ofinjuring the containers by means of the ejector in the event thatcertain of the parts should become jammed, a flexible driving connectionis provided between the operating source and the ng element of theejector.

provision of suitable gripping devices for retaining the containers, orother articles, on the individual supports during the operating cycle.These gripping devices are cam-operated in sucha way as not to interferewith the-; insertion of the containers at the proper point'finthe cyclfeand not to interfere with Original application iiiedAugult 18, 1924,Serial No. 781,780. Divided and this application fliedlprfl 80,-

urther feature of the invention is in the a the discharge of thecontainers by means of the ejector mechanism at the appropriate point inthe cycle? Other objects and advantages of the invention, including theproper co-ordination of the various features mentioned above, willbecome more apparent from the detailed description which will follow.While the invention is disclosed herein as applied to a specific type ofmachine, and while it is admirably suited for this specific .purpose, itwill be understood that it is capable of much broader application. Inthe drawings, which illustrate one suitable form of the invention,

Figure 1 is a partial view in sectional elevation of a machine embodyingthe novel conveyer system. Figure 2 is a plan view partly cut away, withcertain parts omitted, and partly in sections taken along planes atdifferent elevations.

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale of a table orsupport for the article or container carried by the conveyer system.

Figure 5 is a detailed view in section taken along the line 55 of Figure4.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the supporting table and the ejectingmechamsm.

' 7 Figure isan enlarged sectional view taks .en along the line 77 ofFigure 6.

Y '7 win machine By reference to Figure 1 of the drawings it will beseen that in theparticular embodiment of the invention thus illustratedthe apparatus includes a'hollow base or supporting element through whichextends a shaft 51 pro- -vided with a hub 52 carrying a plurality ofradial arms 53. As illustrated, the shaft 51 ma be formed with a flangeor collar 54 by whlch the hub is secured thereto, as bymeans ofset-screws 55; The shaft 51 works within an upper bushing 56, lowerbushing 57 and. an intervening sleeve 58. The pedestal 50 mayconveniently be formed with a hollowedout portion-59 to form a lubricanthousingor' reservoir for-the main bearings of theshaft 51 locatedtherein. The main bearing is shown as consisting of ball-bearings 60 andball-races 61. An alignment plate 62, supported by the closure plate63,serves to hold the bearings in proper position. A lubricant i overflowpipe 66 may be provided.

Power for operating the apparatusmay be supplied-bya shaft 67suitablymounted in bearings68 and operated by an convenient means. Theshaft67 carries a evel' pinion 69 which meshes with abevel gear 7 Omounted on shaft 71 suitably supported in a bearing block 72; Theshaft'71 carries a pinion 73 in mesh with a ring. gear 74 whichissecured.

to-the several arms 53. Itis apparent that the containers to seal thelatter.

when the shafts 67 and are rotated, the

main conveyer element of the apparatus is rotated uponthe shaft 51 as anaxis.

. Supp art unit In the aforementioned parent application suitablemechanism is described for weighlng out definite quantities of the fluidmaterial which it is desired to charge into suitable containers and fordispensing this fluid at the appropriate time into the containers.

Mechanism is also described therein for the.

purpose of applying caps to the openings'in As these mechanisms form nopart of the subject matterintended to be covered by this application,they need not be disclosed herein. It

will be understood, however, that the con'- veyer system which isdescribed and shown is particularly applicable to an apparatus order. a

embodying those, or similar,mechanisms and For the purpose of adjustablysupporting the containers A, there may be provided, as best shown 'in'Figure 4, a table or support 175 mounted on a shaft 176. The shaft maybeprovided with a collar 17 7 and the shaft thus journalled on a thrustbearing 178 supported on .a bracket member 17 9 that is secured to apair of adjacent arms 53. or faces 53a thereof.

In order to hold the can or container A in proper position fortheoperations tobe performed on it, appropriate ipping or retaining meansis provided. n the apparatus illustrated, the table 175 is formed with-a plurality of slots 180 '(see Figs. 6 and 7) through which grippingmeans is arranged to protrude for the purpose of engaging the can. Thetype of mechanism shown is adapted to accommodate squarecans orcontainers but the specific design may of course be varied to suit theparticular type'of article to' be handled.- As shown in Figure '7, jaws181 are mounted on pins 182 Each jaw member f isin effect in the form ofa lever fulcrumed on a pm' 182 with one end of the lever adapted to passthrough a slot and thus engage the container A. The other end of eachjaw member 181 is connected, by means of a link 183 and a pin 184mounted on lugs 185, to a clutch member 186 which preferably assumes theform of a disc or plate slidably mounted 188 supported on a bracket 189.One end of ieo 'on the shaft 176. A clutch lever 187 is 'provided foractuating the clutch plate 186. The clutch lever is pivotally mounted ona pin.

the lever 187 is in theform of a yoke that is adapted to engage in aperipheral groove in the clutch member. 186. Each member of the yoke maywell be providedwith a stud 190 carrying .an anti-friction roller.Theother end of the clutch lever is equipped with a roller 191 adaptedto engage a cam 192. In the arrangement illustrated, the clutch lever187 and clutch plate 186 are actuated by 5 gravity-to cause the jaws 181to be raised.

above the surface of the table 175 and grip the container A. When. theroller 191 engages with the cam 192, the cam end of the lever isdepressed and the clutch end of the 0 lever is raised, thus releasingthe jaws 181 from engagement with the container A. The

' cam 192 isso arrangedthat the gripping means 181 is held below thesurface of the table 175 to permit the completed article, or

5 filled and capped container, to be discharged ine and a new ,onesubstituted- (See Fig. 3).

from the mac in its place. The table'175 is mounted at an angle, asclearly indicated in the drawings, so as to position the containerthereon in an inclined or tilted position. This, as more fully explainedin the parent case, enables the insertion of the spout of the funnel ordispensing member in an opening on the elevated side It is preferable toprovide means for holding opening 201.

the table in position after it has been rotated a lock plate197, whichas illustrated may be constructed integral with the pinion 194, isformed with'two holes198 positioned on a diameter line. A weighted pinor detent 199, 5 carried on oneend ofa rocker arm 200 and guided'inahole 201 in the bracket 179, is adapted to engage alternately theopenings 198 and when so engaged locks the shaft 176.

' and table 175 against rotation. The'other 0 end of the rocker arm200is pivotally secured bya pin 202 supported on the bracket 179 and thearm is fulcrumedon a lift-pin 203. The latter pin is adapted to engagecams 204 and 2O5 adjacent the racks 195 and 196, 5 respectively (seeFig. The cams' are adapted to raise the pin 203 so as to raise thelock-pin 199 out of engagement with an opening198 in lock-plate 197. Theopenings 198 and 201 may if desired, be provided 0 with bushings, asshown, and bevelledlapproaches to the holes 198 may be formed on thesurface of plate 197 so as to insure that the pin 199 will drop intoposition whenever either of the openings 198 registers with the of thecontainer so that it may be more into the position desired. Thus, forexample,

cam 204, the lock-pin 199 is moved out of en gagement with lock-plate197 and the co-actionof rack195 and pinion 194 operates to rotate shaft176 and table 175. The movement is terminated at the end of half a revo-When lift-pin 203 comes in contact with v lution as the lock-pin 199slips into the other is 'again moved out of engagement with thelock-plate 197 and the action of rack 196 and "pinion 194 causes anotherhalf revolution of the'table 175.

I Discharge mechanism of containers to be used; in the drawings the ahand is shown as being in the form of a right angle prong suitable forsquare containers.

Although the push-rod 206 and hand 207 may be integral with one another,it is advantageous to provide separate parts and-tocomnect them by meansof a flexible joint, so that in case of ajam occurring in' the dischargeof the containers, no injury to any of t 0 hand 207.; The hand should beof a containers will result. Thus, the push-rod 1 206 and hand 207 maybe pivotally connected by means of a bolt.208 and torsion spring 209,which tends to hold the parts in the position shown but will yield topermit a pivotal movement of the hand on the push rodlwhen.

any undue resistance is'encountered.

The push-rod 206 is guided and sup t dl in a bracket 210 attached to apair 0 adjacent arms 53. The push-rod isprovided with.

a stud 211carrying a roller 212 adapted to travel inja camway 213. Theposition and formation of the .cam 213 is' shown in Figure 3. The cam isarran ed to so actuate the push-rod 206 thatit will, after the containerhas been filled and capped, operate to bring the hand in contact withthe container and discharge same from the table 175. It will beobserved, that the inclinatiofiof the camway with respect to thecircular path of travel of the filling andcappir ig units, is at firstat a slight angle and that the angle increases sharply as the apex ofthe camway at? the: point of discharge is reached, or, in other words,the angle of the. camway with radii lines of the rotary apparatusapproximates a right angle in the first portionof the camway andprogressively decreases as the point of discharge is reached. It islikewise preferable to form that portion of the camway, which servestocause the withdrawal of the ejecting mechanism, with a relatively sharangle with respect to the path of travel of I the filling and cappingunits. This configu- [ration of the cam-insures that the ejecting membershall not be pushed against the container A with undue force so as toin] ure same and yet that when the ejector has come lnto contact withthe container, it will move with increased speed and thus quicklydischarge the container from the table, after which the ejectingmechanism is rapidly Withdrawn so. as to permit another container to beadmltted to the table, with a minimum period of time intervening betweenthe discharge of the finished container and the admission of the newcontainer. The container thus removed from the machine may convenientlybe discharged to a travelling belt or conveyer 260, as indicated inFiguresl and 2.

The cam 213 is preferably arranged so as to withdraw the push-rod 206,after the discharge of a container, a predetermined distance in order tohold the hand 207 over the table in such a manner that another containerA may be properly centered within the open ings 180 on the table. Itwill be noted that the camway 213 comprises a portion that exf tendsapproximately concentric with the circular path'of travel of the table.The roller 212 travelling in this portion of the camway holds the hand207 in positionso that the container can-be placed on the tablein properposition. After the container has thus been properly positioned, thegripping members 181 engage the container and the hand 207 is completelywithdrawn from the table.

Operation A brief summary of the operation of the various features ofthe conveyer system in their co-ordinated relation may aid in theunderstanding of the invention.

The main conveyer element, including the sleeve 51, hub 52, radial arms53 and elements supported thereby, is continuously rotated about thestationary suppo'rt'orpedestal by means of the action of the pinion 73on the internal ring gear 74 carried by the arms 53.,

- The pinion 7,3 is secured to the shaft71,

'which is driven by meansgof thebevelled gears 69 .and from the mainoperating shaft 67, which in turn isdriven by any suitable means at adesired rate of speed. A desired number of inclined tables 17 5 arerotat ably mounted on the conveyer element as by being mounted on theupper ends of shafts or spindles 176. l hese supporting tables are-'carried bodily with the main conveyer element through successivecyclesof the machine.-v p

The operation may be considered asstarting at the point X in Figure '2,-where new articles or containers v.may be placed upon the successiveempty supporting tables, either manually by tin operator stationedatlthis point or by some automatic means. The hand207 associated with atable passing the point X is so positioned thatit serves as a with therack sag stop or guide for the correct centering of the container on thetable. At this time the gripping devices will be held in inactiveposition by the co-operation of the camelement 192 with the roller 191on the lever 187. Now, as the table advances and the roller 191 clearsthe cam 192, the gripping devices 181 will be rocked into activeposition by means of the weight of the clutch plate 186. At about thesame time that the gripping devices are rendered efiective,orshortlythereafter, the hand 207 will be withdrawn from engagement withthe 'container'due to they action of the cam 213 on the roller 212.

The container'will be carried with the table in the same relationthrough something more than half of the cycle of the main conveyerelement, during which time. certain operations may be performed, as forexample the .176 will be brought into'co-operation with the fixed racksegment 195, which will serve tor0tate the pinion and table through 180.

In the meantime, the detent 199 will have been released so that it maydrop into the other of the two holes 198, thus arresting rotary movementof the table after its half revolution and retaining it in itsnew'position.

During the following period a difierent 1 operation may be performed onthe container,

as for example the application of a cap or seal. WVhen this operation iscompleted, and

as the table approaches, the endless conveyer 260 (Figs. 1 and 2), theroller 212 of the ejector mechanism will enter the camway 213 so thatthe hand 207 will first be moved slowly until it engages the containerand then will be moved more quickly to eject-the container andpass'itonto the conveyer 260. During this same portion of the cycle, the

roller 191 will have been brought into cooperation with the cammingelement 192 to" release the gripping devices 181 and hold them inactiveduring the ejecting operation and until 'a new container has beenintroduced, as explained at the outset. The hand 207 will thereafter bequickly withdrawn to] the point where it serves as a guide orpositioning means for the new container. In-the meantime, the pm 203will jbe brought into co-operation with the'cam 205 to raise the detent199, and thepinion 194 will co-operate ment'19'6 to again rotate thesupporting ta le'through 180 to its original position. The supportingtable is now brought to the starting position indicated at X and isready to follow through thesame 0 cle. will be understood that each of te plurality of tables carried by the main conveyer element will followthrough the same cycle and that as a group they enter successlvely uponthe different stages of the cycle.

. been illustrated in the drawings and described in the foregoing, itwill be understood that many .changes may. be made in the specificmechanisms employed and the nature of their co-operation withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. It is not desired to belimited in the interpretation of the scope of the invention other thanby the terms of the claims which follow. What I claim is: 4 1. "Acontinuously moving conveyer comprising a rotary element, individualsupports rotatably mounted on said element and each!- adapted to hold anarticle to be conveyed 'in an inclined position, means for rotating saidsupports at pre-determinedpoints in the cycle of movement of said rotaryelement, and] means for ejecting articles from said supports at apie-determined point in said cycle.

, 2. 'A conveyer system comprising a con-,

tinuously movable member, a plurality of supports rotatably' mounted onsaid member and adapted to hold articles in a plu- I rality of dilferentinclined positions on said member, the axis of rotationpf said support,passing through the article carried thereby,

3-5 and means for rotating said supports during the movement of saidmember. 3. A conveyer system compr1s1'ng a continuously movable member,a plurality of supports rotatably mounted on said member and adapted tohold articles in a plurality of difierent inclined positions on saidmember, the axis of rotation of said support passing through the articlecarriedthereby, means for rotating said supports during the "movement ofsaid member, and means for,

discharging articles from said supports as they reach a predeterminedpoint. 4. A conveyer system comprising a continuously' movable member, aplurality of supports rotatably mounted on said member and adapted tohold articles in a plurality of difl'erent positions on said member, the

axis of rotation of said support passing I ./through the article carriedthereby, means continuously nioving endless conveyer, an inclined tablerotatably mounted on said o0n-.

veyer and adapted to support an article in a plurality of'difl'erentpositions, a detent'for holding'said table .in its difi'erent positions,

While a specific form of the invention has means for releasing saidgripping prior to the operation of said e ecting means.

means for moving said conveyer through a cycle of operation, and'meansco-operatlng with said table during the movement of the conve er throu11 said cycle for-releasing said etent am? ad'usting said table from oneposition to anot er and back to its original position to change thedirection of inclination thereof,

6. In apparatus of the class described a continuously movingconveyer, arotatable inclined table on said conveyer adapted to 'support acontainer, devices on said table for gripping a container, meansfor-moving said container intodifl'erent predetermined positions, meansfor ejecting the container at a predetermined posltion of the conveyer,and

7. In apparatus of the class described a continuously. moving conveyer,a rotatable table on said conveyer adapted tosupport 9.

devices container in an inclined position, devices on said table forgripping the container, means for rotating the table to difierentpredetermined positions, meansfior releasing the gripping. devices, andmea s for ejecting the container from the table. 8. In apparatus of theclass described a movable conveyer, a rotatable table on. said. conveyeradapted to support a container, de'-' the convices on 'said table forgrippin tainer, means for rotating the tab e to different positions,means for releasing the g j ping devices, 'a hand adapted to "engage tlir container, and means for operating the hand to eject the container,said means acting to partially withdraw said hand to a point where itserves as a ositioning member for a new container an subse uentlg fullywithdraw said hand, sai

means being opergtedto permit the devicIes to grip t e new container.

releasing adapted to sup art a container, means for acting to s p i napparatus of the'class described a movableconveyer, a rotatable tablethereon rotating the tab e to difierent predetermined positions, a handadapted to en e the'con-f tainer, means; for operatin the and to ejectthe container and a yielda l'e connection be tween the hand and theoperating means;

10. In apparatusof the. class described a movable conveyer, a rotatabletable thereon adapted to'sup'port a container, means for rotating thetable to difierent positions, a hand adapted to, e ga e the container,and a meansfor operating t e'hand to' eject the container, said meansacting' to partially withdraw said hand toa point where it serves as apositioning member for a new container and subsequently acting to fullysaid .hand. 1

l I e g 3 0 class I stationary ame, a continuously rota conveyer carriedthereby, a plurality of individual article supports rotatably mounted onsaid conveyor, means for rotatin said supports to different predeterminepositions, devices associated with said supports for gripping articlescarried thereby, means for successively releasing said gripping devicesupon, the rotation of said conveyer, and

means for successively-ejecting the articles from their supports, saidejecting means serving also as a positioning means when the articles areplaced on the supports.

12. In apparatus of the class described a rotary conveyer, a tablehaving an inclined surface rotatably mounted on said conveyer, means forrotating said conveyer, and means for rotating said table atpredetermined positions of said conve er to change the direction' ofinclination oi said tabl I In witness whereof I have hereunto set myhand this 25th day of April, 1929.,

JROLLIN L. DRAKE.

